Ayushman Bharat, CM health scheme to cover over 1,850 hospitals in West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme and the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana would cover 1,240 private hospitals and 627 government medical facilities.

Speaking at the launch of the programmes in the state, Adhikari said beneficiaries of the two schemes would now be able to avail healthcare services not only in West Bengal, but across the country.

"Earlier, the state government's scheme was limited to West Bengal. Now, you will get the benefits across India," he said at the 'Ayushman Diwas' event here.


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The CM said beneficiaries will have access to treatment at around 38,600 hospitals across the country.

Those not eligible for Ayushman Bharat will be covered under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, and this number is likely to be around 80 lakh families, he said.

Adhikari said the schemes would cover around 1,950 treatment packages, an increase from more than 1,700 procedures available under the state's earlier health scheme.

Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee had told reporters on Friday that under the scheme, beneficiaries will be entitled to cashless health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.

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The chief minister also said the beneficiaries would have access to 100 'Amrit' pharmacies and around 480 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi centres at government hospitals across the state, following agreements reached as part of the programme.

Adhikari said the state government has introduced an eye care programme, too, and that he himself underwent an eye check-up under the initiative.

He said some private hospitals in the state, including those run by the Ramakrishna Mission, had raised concerns over the reimbursement rates under the schemes.

"Some hospitals have said they are in Category B, while rates in cities such as Mumbai and Chennai and at institutions like CMC Vellore are different. I assure you that the government will look into their concerns," the CM said.

The West Bengal government would work with private hospitals to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality treatment without disruption, he said.

Referring to the earlier health scheme coverage, Adhikari said certain facilities were available to a section of the population, but not universally accessible.

He said the integration of Ayushman Bharat with the state's health insurance scheme would give people wider access to specialised medical facilities outside West Bengal.

Adhikari appealed to all stakeholders, including government and private hospitals, to work together to strengthen healthcare delivery in West Bengal.

Health cards were also distributed on the occasion.

Earlier in the day, Adhikari said those covered under Ayushman Bharat and the CM's health scheme would be entitled to the same benefits.

"These two schemes will be implemented together. We have identified those who will be eligible for Ayushman Bharat. Around 40 lakh senior citizens will be brought under the CM's health scheme. There are no eligibility criteria for them.

"Around 80 lakh families do not qualify for Ayushman Bharat. They will get benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh and treatment at all hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat. All the benefits will be the same," Adhikari told reporters at the state secretariat.

The Centre has allocated around Rs 1,000 crore for implementation of Ayushman Bharat in the state, accounting for 60 per cent of the funding, while the remaining 40 per cent will be borne by the state, Mukherjee had said on Friday.